?
The Hyperloop Transportation System is being designed and prototyped in a rapidly evolving, flexible and lean (i.e. agile) corporate environment by multiple engineering teams that span several continents. This effort by Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) represents the convergence of technologies categorized as either well known, evolving or revolutionary. When successfully combined and fielded as a large system, they will represent a mode of transportation not envisioned by current transportation or business regulations. HTT must build on relevant standards to close regulatory gaps. Where there is no regulatory precedence, HTT must exceed current transportation safety levels using an agile and yet robust design process that excels in system safety engineering. This is a business imperative in order to sustain both financial market and public confidence in Hyperloop as a beneficial undertaking. The Hyperloop is challenged by what is known as the ?pacing problem?, the ever-increasing gap between existing regulations and emerging technology. Thus, a fundamentally new regulatory approach is needed to ensure this new technology is both safely and timely deployed to solve the growing socioeconomic challenge of clean, safe and effective transportation. This reality will require effective public-private partnership to build and maintain a licensing structure and associated practices, an increasingly common approach to regulating innovation.
Key Words: Transportation, technology, regulation, hyperloop
